Tunçalp Ö, Pena-Rosas JP, Lawrie T, Bucagu M, Oladapo OT, Portela A, Gülmezoglu AM. WHO recommendations on antenatal care for a positive pregnancy experience going beyond survival. BJOG. 2017;124(6):860–2.

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Ahinkorah BO, Seidu AA, Budu E, Mohammed A, Adu C, Agbaglo E, Ameyaw EK, Yaya S. Factors associated with the number and timing of antenatal care visits among married women in Cameroon: evidence from the 2018 Cameroon Demographic and Health Survey. J Biosoc Sci. 2022;54(2):322–32.

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

World Health Organization. Maternal mortality [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2024 Jan 20]. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/maternal-mortality

UNICEF. Maternal mortality [Internet]. UNICEF DATA 2020 [cited 2024 Jan 20]. https://data.unicef.org/topic/maternal-health/maternal-mortality/

World Health Organization. World health statistics 2019: Monitoring health for the SDGs, sustainable development goals. World Health Organization; 2019 [cited 2024 Jan 20]. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/324835

Okedo-Alex IN, Akamike IC, Ezeanosike OB, Uneke CJ. Determinants of antenatal care utilisation in sub-saharan Africa: a systematic review. BMJ open. 2019;9(10).

Mekonnen T, Dune T, Perz J. Maternal health service utilisation of adolescent women in sub-saharan Africa: a systematic scoping review. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2019;19:1–6.

Article  Google Scholar 

World Health Organization. Trends in maternal mortality 2000 to 2017: estimates by WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, World Bank Group and the United Nations Population Division.

Dulla D, Daka D, Wakgari N. Antenatal care utilisation and its associated factors among pregnant women in Boricha District, southern Ethiopia. Divers Equal Health Care. 2017;14(2):76–84.

Article  Google Scholar 

Tikmani SS, Ali SA, Saleem S, Bann CM, Mwenechanya M, Carlo WA, Figueroa L, Garces AL, Krebs NF, Patel A, Hibberd PL. Trends of antenatal care during pregnancy in low and middle-income countries: findings from the global network maternal and newborn health registry. InSeminars in perinatology 2019 Aug 1 (Vol. 43, No. 5, pp. 297–307). WB Saunders.

Sarker BK, Rahman M, Rahman T, Rahman T, Khalil JJ, Hasan M, Rahman F, Ahmed A, Mitra DK, Mridha MK, Rahman A. Status of the WHO recommended timing and frequency of antenatal care visits in Northern Bangladesh. PLoS ONE. 2020;15(11):e0241185.

Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

Benova L, Tunçalp Ö, Moran AC, Campbell OM. Not just a number: examining coverage and content of antenatal care in low-income and middle-income countries. BMJ Global Health. 2018;3(2).

World Health Organization. Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescent’s Health & Every Woman Every Child Initiative: WHO. World Health Organization. 2016 [cited 2024 Jan 20]. http://www.who.int/life-course/partners/global-strategy/en/

World Health Organization. WHO recommendations on antenatal care for a positive pregnancy experience: summary: highlights and key messages from the World Health Organization’s 2016 global recommendations for routine antenatal care. World Health Organization; 2018.

Lincetto O, Mothebesoane-Anoh S, Gomez P, Munjanja S. Antenatal care. Opportunities for Africa's newborns: practical data, policy and programmatic support for newborn care in Africa. 2006:55–62.

Nyarko P, Birungi H, Armar-Klemesu M, Arhinful D, Deganus S, Odoi-Agyarko H, Brew G. Acceptability and feasibility of introducing the WHO focused antenatal care package in Ghana. FRONTIERS final report. Washington (DC): Population Council. 2006 Jun.

Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), ICF. Ghana Demographic and Health Survey 2022. Accra, Ghana, and Rockville, Maryland, USA: GSS and ICF; 2024.

Duodu PA, Bayuo J, Mensah JA, Aduse-Poku L, Arthur-Holmes F, Dzomeku VM, Dey NE, Agbadi P, Nutor JJ. Trends in antenatal care visits and associated factors in Ghana from 2006 to 2018. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2022;22(1):59.

Amoako BK, Anto F. Late ANC initiation and factors associated with sub-optimal uptake of sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine in pregnancy: a preliminary study in Cape Coast Metropolis, Ghana. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2021;21(1):1–0.

Article  Google Scholar 

Sakeah E, Okawa S, Rexford Oduro A, Shibanuma A, Ansah E, Kikuchi K, Gyapong M, Owusu-Agyei S, Williams J, Debpuur C, Yeji F. Determinants of attending antenatal care at least four times in rural Ghana: analysis of a cross-sectional survey. Global Health Action. 2017;10(1):1291879.

Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), Ghana Health Service (GHS), ICF. Ghana Maternal Health Survey 2017. Key Indicators Report Accra. 2018 Aug.

Manyeh AK, Amu A, Williams J, Gyapong M. Factors associated with the timing of antenatal clinic attendance among first-time mothers in rural southern Ghana. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2020;20(1):1–7.

Article  Google Scholar 

Abubakari A, Agbozo F, Abiiro GA. Factors associated with optimal antenatal care use in Northern region, Ghana. Women and Health. 2018;58(8):942–54.

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Owusu SS. Factors associated with antenatal care service utilisation among women with children under five years in Sunyani Municipality, Ghana. medRxiv. 2021 Mar 2:2021–02.

Boadi C, Bonsu EO, Okeke SR, Boadu EF, Addo IY. Interplay of sociodemographic factors and antenatal care attendance with free maternal care policy: a case study of Ghana. BMJ Public Health. 2023;1(1).

Anaba EA, Alor SK, Badzi CD. Utilisation of antenatal care among adolescent and young mothers in Ghana; analysis of the 2017/2018 multiple indicator cluster survey. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2022;22(1):1–8.

Article  Google Scholar 

Anaba EA, Afaya A. Correlates of late initiation and underutilisation of the recommended eight or more antenatal care visits among women of reproductive age: insights from the 2019 Ghana Malaria Indicator Survey. BMJ Open. 2022;12(7).

Ekholuenetale M, Nzoputam CI, Barrow A. Prevalence and socioeconomic inequalities in eight or more antenatal care contacts in Ghana: findings from 2019 population-based data. Int J Women’s Health. 2021 Mar;23:349–60.

Chapman KA, Machado SS, van der Merwe K, Bryson A, Smith D. Exploring primary care non-attendance: a study of low-income patients. J Prim Care Community Health. 2022;13:21501319221082352.

Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Sulemana A, Dinye RD. Access to healthcare in rural communities in Ghana: a study of some selected communities in the Pru District. Eur J Res Social Sci. 2014;2(4).

Konje ET, Magoma MT, Hatfield J, Kuhn S, Sauve RS, Dewey DM. Missed opportunities in antenatal care for improving the health of pregnant women and newborns in Geita district, Northwest Tanzania. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2018;18:1–3.

Article  Google Scholar 

Abebe H, Beyene GA, Mulat BS. Harmful cultural practices during perinatal period and associated factors among women of childbearing age in Southern Ethiopia: Community based cross-sectional study. PLoS ONE. 2021;16(7):e0254095.

Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

Aziato L, Odai PN, Omenyo CN. Religious beliefs and practices in pregnancy and labour: an inductive qualitative study among post-partum women in Ghana. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2016;16:1–0.

Article  Google Scholar 

Croft NT, Marshall AM, Allen CK. Guide to DHS statistics (Version 2). Rockville, Maryland, USA: ICF International. 2018:33 – 2.

Corsi DJ, Neuman M, Finlay JE, Subramanian SV. Demographic and health surveys: a profile. Int J Epidemiol. 2012;41(6):1602–13.

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

ICF International. Demographic and Health Survey Sampling and Household Listing Manual. Maryland, U.S.A.: ICF International: MEASURE DHS, Calverton; 2012.

Google Scholar 

Von Elm E, Altman DG, Egger M, Pocock SJ, Gøtzsche PC, Vandenbroucke JP, Strobe Initiative. The strengthening the reporting of Observational studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) Statement: guidelines for reporting observational studies. Int J Surg. 2014;12(12):1495–9.

Article  Google Scholar 

World Health Organization. WHO recommendations on antenatal care for a positive pregnancy experience. World Health Organization; 2016.

Odusina EK, Ahinkorah BO, Ameyaw EK, Seidu AA, Budu E, Zegeye B, Yaya S. Noncompliance with the WHO’s recommended eight antenatal care visits among pregnant women in sub-saharan Africa: a multilevel analysis. Biomed Res Int. 2021;2021:1–1.

Article  Google Scholar 

Weyori AE, Seidu AA, Aboagye RG, Holmes FA, Okyere J, Ahinkorah BO. Antenatal care attendance and low birth weight of institutional births in sub-saharan Africa. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2022;22(1):283.

Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Ahinkorah BO, Seidu AA, Agbaglo E, Adu C, Budu E, Hagan JE, Schack T, Yaya S. Determinants of antenatal care and skilled birth attendance services utilisation among childbearing women in Guinea: evidence from the 2018 Guinea demographic and Health Survey data. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2021;21:1–1.

Article  Google Scholar 

Bain LE, Aboagye RG, Dowou RK, Kongnyuy EJ, Memiah P, Amu H. Prevalence and determinants of maternal healthcare utilisation among young women in sub-saharan Africa: cross-sectional analyses of demographic and health survey data. BMC Public Health. 2022;22(1):647. [A].

Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Bain LE, Aboagye RG, Malunga G, Amu H, Dowou RK, Saah FI, Kongnyuy EJ. Individual and contextual factors associated with maternal healthcare utilisation in Mali: a cross-sectional study using demographic and Health Survey data. BMJ Open. 2022;12(2). [B].

Arefaynie M, Kefale B, Yalew M, Adane B, Dewau R, Damtie Y. Number of antenatal care utilisation and associated factors among pregnant women in Ethiopia: zero-inflated Poisson regression of 2019 intermediate Ethiopian Demography Health Survey. Reproductive Health. 2022;19(1):1–10.

Article  Google Scholar 

Ekholuenetale M, Benebo FO, Idebolo AF. Individual-, household-, and community-level factors associated with eight or more antenatal care contacts in Nigeria: evidence from demographic and Health Survey. PLoS ONE. 2020;15(9):e0239855.

Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

Islam MM, Masud MS. Determinants of frequency and contents of antenatal care visits in Bangladesh: assessing the extent of compliance with the WHO recommendations. PLoS ONE. 2018;13(9):e0204752.

Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Ekholuenetale M. Prevalence of eight or more antenatal care contacts: findings from multi-country nationally representative data. Global Pediatr Health. 2021;8:2333794X211045822.

Article  Google Scholar 

Demissie KA, Jejaw M, Wondimu BG, Mersha YT, Demsash ES, Dessie SG, Teshome AG, Geberu DM, Tiruneh MG. Only 9% of mothers have eight and more ANC visit in 14 sub-saharan African countries; evidence from the most recent DHS 2018–2023: a multilevel analysis. BMC Public Health. 2024;24(1):1631.

Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Bayrampour H, Heaman M, Duncan KA, Tough S. Advanced maternal age and risk perception: a qualitative study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2012;12:1–3.

Article  Google Scholar 

Sword W, Heaman MI, Brooks S, Tough S, Janssen PA, Young D, Kingston D, Helewa ME, Akhtar-Danesh N, Hutton E. Women’s and care providers’ perspectives of quality prenatal care: a qualitative descriptive study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2012;12:1–8.

Article  Google Scholar 

Maresova P, Krejcar O, Maskuriy R, Bakar NA, Selamat A, Truhlarova Z, Horak J, Joukl M, Vítkova L. Challenges and opportunity in mobility among older adults–key determinant identification. BMC Geriatr. 2023;23(1):447.

Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Krugu JK, Mevissen F, Münkel M, Ruiter R. Beyond love: a qualitative analysis of factors associated with teenage pregnancy among young women with pregnancy experience in Bolgatanga. Ghana Cult Health Sexuality. 2017;19(3):293–307.

Article